Side rail lock for hospital bedsteads and the like



F. KUSTERLE Oct.7, 1930.

' SIDE RAIL L601; FOR HOSPITAL BEDSTEADS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 8, 1923 Patented Oct. 7, 1930 *niiannxnsrnnnn, or KENosHA, Wisconsin, AssidNoR T70 sim oascoivlmm, F

7 ,wiherethe bedsteads are subjectedto-strains a frame 13, I provide a'bracket-lfi wliich is sestitution;

PATENT:OFFICE-7* NEW HYORKLN. Y., A CORPORATION or DELAWABE i i 7 Application filed August-8,1928. Seria1 No.'-298;245.

This invention relates to side raillocks for hospital bedsteads and for other bedsteads particularly intended for use ininstitutions whicliiiordinary"'bedsteads arenot expected to withsta-nd.

e principal object of the invention flis to provide an improved iorm of side-rail lock for bedsteads, which 7 will: render the; same exceptionally rigid so that the bedstead will withstand such moving and 77han'dling fqto which it issubjected in a hospital or other in- Another object of thei'nventionis to providean improved form f side-rail lock iwhich will beTefiective to prevent the. side i of the bedstead froinaccidentally becoining, disconnected from the 7 main -or end framebfthe bedstead; to provide locking means i for pre zenting such accidental separation which, when properly adjusted, will not hinder assembling or disassembling of the bedstead; to provide an improved formof lock which will be simple in construction and" cheap to)Inaniifacturefand, in general, 'to provide an improved form of side-rail lock oftheclassd'esjcribed. 7 7 7 Other obj ects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawingin which I have illustrated aside rail lockeinbodying a selected formjof the invention.

In the drawing: 1 7 7 is a plan, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation, certain parts being broken away inthese 'iiguresto more clearly illustratethe construc tion,and 7 7 H Figs; 3 and 4 are sections onthe lines 3 3 and respectively or Fig. 2. i

7 Referring 'nowto the drawings 1 I have I illustrateda side rail 10, of angle iron construction which includes a'horizontal flange 1 17 and verticalflange 12, and a main frame me b ls, which includes a corner post 1 1,

" hich extends laterally outwardly from the A the said siderail an 1minfr mebeingca nected together byfajlock embodying one form of my invention 7 7: i i i 1 side rail 10 and end For connec ing; the

cured; to the "corner post 514 me n -Joe one or mo e; bolt mange extend through one legulffof thebracket through the adja cent wall of the corner post and thrfe adedly engagem elongated nut nieinbl 18 disposed 7 inside of the post; Thelnutfrnem ber 18 is preferablyin the form of a strap having a pair of; threaded apertures to receive the spaced bolts 16 shown ,clearlyj in Figl 3Q The bracket 151als0includes a flange portion 179 corner postli. 3 A bracket engaging plate 20,.in the present instance triangular inform,,is secured to the vertical flange 120:6 the angle iron, siderail 10, one point"of attachinent being" at the outer enclof the plate as, shown at 2 1 where the plate is offset and rivetedtothe vertical flangel2 so that the saine is held in spaced 7 relation to the main body oflthe bracketen b gaging plate 20. At its inner end, the vertiscal flange 12 is secured to the bracket engagiing plate 20 by ineansof a rivet 22 which is provided with i an intermediate shoulder or enlargement 23, which serves to space the flange andiplate-apa-rt adjacent their inner ends. 7 i 7 i 7 i =1 The bracket engaging'plate 20 and bracket flange 19 are connected by suitable means, which in the present instance, includes a pair of verticallv'spacedpin and slot connections, one of which connections is effected byineans of a vertically extending slot 24 in the'upper end of the bracket flanger19, which slot is adaptedto receivethe enlarged rivet shank or portion 23 as clearly shown inFig-s. land 2. The other connection betweenthe pl .te720 and bracket-15 includes a slot 25 in the lower inner endof theplate 20 which is adapted to fit ov fllldbe seated on a pin 26 which is secured to and carried by the flange 19 of the bracket 15. It will be noted that the slots 24: and 25 are both open ended so that the connecting of the plate 20 and bracket 15 may be effected by relatively vertical movement between the said parts. It will of course be understood that in usual practice, the side rail 10 with its bracket engaging plate 20, will be lowered relative to the frame portion 13 until the pin 23 and slot 25 engage the slot 24: and pin 26 respectively, the flange 19 0f the bracket being disposed between the plate 20 and vertical flange 12 of the side rail.

The vertically spaced pin and slot connections above described, are effective to-prevent endwise movement of the side rail from the main frame part .14, and each of the connec-' tions is eifective to prevent vertical pivotal movement of the side rail about the other connection as a pivot. For preventing lat- A clampingbolt 27 provided with an en larged head 28 and a squared shank. portion 29 is disposed ina slot 30 provided in the bracket engaging plate 20. The 'slot 30 is preferably curved or arcuate as shown in Fig. 2 so that its opposite end portions are offset or curved. downwardly for a purpose which will presently appear. The flange 19 of the bracket 15 is provided. with a slot 31. opening at one endat-the outer edge 32 of the said flange. A portion of the slot 30 registers with the slot 31. when the parts are assembled so that the bolt 27 may he slid from inoperative position in the outer end 33 of the slot 30 to operative position in the registering slot portions as shown in Fig. 2. A wing nut 34 is provided on the bolt 27 whereby the flange 19 may be tightly clamped against the plate 20, awasher 35 being preferably interposed between the wing nut and inside of the plate 20. The squared portion 29 of the bolt 27 fits fai rly closely in the slot 31 of the bracket flange 19 so that the bolt is prevented from turning when the wing nut 34 is turned to effect the said clamping action. The outer end of the bolt is preferably upset or headed over, as indicated at 36 to prevent the nut from being removed from the bolt and possibly lost. i

It will be noted that the slots 30 and 31 extend crosswise of the substantially vertical direction'of movement which is necessary for assembling or effecting the above described pin'and' slot connections between the side ra1l and mainframe part. Hence, it will be understood that the'clamping boltis carried in inoperative position in the outer end portion 33 of the 'slot 30 when theparts are be ing connected. After the pin and slot connections arecompleted, the bolt may be moved into the registering slot portions and the wing nut tightened to clamp the parts tightly together so that lateral shifting movement between the parts is effectively prevented. The downwardly offset or inclined arrangement of the registering slot portions serves to retain the clamping bolt in operative position even though the nut 34 may become loosened or in the event that the clamping nut is not tightened sufliciently to lock the bolt in its operative position. The bolt thus retained in operative position is of course effective to prevent relative vertical movement of the side rail and main frame so that the parts are not apt to be accidentally disconnected. The downwardly offset or inclined arrangement of the outer end portion 33 of the slot 30 serves to retain the clamping bolt in inoperative position when the parts are being as sembled so that the bolt does not interfere with or hinder the assembling operation.

' I am aware that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, which should be construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bedstead, the combination of a main frame member, a side rail, means for detachably securing said side rail to said main frame member, comprising abracket secured to said main frame and having a vertically disposed open ended slot' and a second open ended slot extendingcrosswise of the length of said vertically disposed slot, a bracket plate secured to said side rail, provided with a stud adapted to enter said vertically disposed slot, and having an elongated slot, a part of which registers with said crosswise extending slot and another part of which extends outwardly beyond the outer edge of said bracket when said parts are assembled, a clamping device carried by said plate and movable inthe slot therein, said clamping device being adapted to be moved to the outer portion of the slot in said plate to permit engagement of said stud main frame member, a side rail, means for 'detachablyfsecuring said side, rail to said main 'itrameniem'ber,comprising a bracket carried by said main frame member, a bracket engaging plate carried by said side rail, a pair ofvertically spaced interlocking connections between said bracket'and plate, serving to prevent l e'ndwise' movement of said side rail relative to said frame, each of said connections being effective to prevent vertical pivotalmovement'of said side rail about the other connection'a's apivot, and'clamping treated means carried by one of said interlocking partsfor releasably locking the same together; against relative vertical and relatlve lateral horizontal movement. Y

3. In abedstead, the combination of a main frame member, a side rail, means for detachably securing said side rail to said main frame member, comprising a bracket carriedby said main frame member, a bracket engaging platec arriedby said siderail, a pair of vertically spaced interlocking connections between i said bracket and plate, said connections being adapted to be effected by relative, sub

stantially vertical movement betweensaid bracket and plate, and a clamping device for locking said parts, in interlocking engagement, said bracket having a crosswise extending slot opening at the outer edge of the bracket, saidplate having a slot, partly registering with the slot in said bracket and partly extending outwardly beyond said outer edge when said parts are assembled, said clamping device being positioned in said slot and movabletherein from operative position in the registering portions of said slots to inoperative position in the outer end of the-slot in said plate, thereby to facilitate assembling or disassembling ofsaid parts. i

4. In a bedstead, the combination of a main i frame member, a s1de rail, means for detachably securing said side rail to said main frame qmember, comprising a bracket carried by said main frame member, a bracket engaging plate carried by said side rall, a pair of vert cally spaced interlocking connectlons between said bracket and plate, said connections being.

registering portions of said plate to inoperative position in the outer end of the slot in said plate, the outer end portion of theslot in said plate being ofisetv downwardly so as to be effective to temporarily retain said clamping device out of operative position in the slot, thereby to facilitate assembling of said.

parts.

5. In a bedstead, the combination of a main frame member, a side rail, meansfor detachably securing said side rail "to said mainframe member, comprising a bracket,

carried by said main frame member, a bracket engagingplate carried by said side rail, a pair of vertically spaced pin and slot connections between said bracket andplate, said connections being engageable or disengage- "able by "relati' ve we aeii movement? between saidbracket andplate, a boltandfwing nut to: clampingsaid bracket and plate in 1 as sembled relatiomsaid bracketbeing iprovided with a cresswiselextending slqt opening at the outer edge ,oftlie bracket, said plate being "provided with an elongated slot, partly registering "with the slbt in {said bracket and partly extending outwardly beyond the 1 out} 7 stage or easement-when Saa anama I assemb es; Si-menacing positionedjn said nail-gated 510i, movable there-i1 1 iron are e rativepositionirrthe uilter pdrtion to p erative .position in theregistering portienef said slot and :providedflwith a shank having flat side portions fitting in the slot in said bracket so as to prevent rotation of the bolt therein, thereby to facilitate turning of said wingnut relative to the bolt for effecting clamping of said parts in assembled relation, the outer end portion of the slot in said plate being offset downwardly so as to be effective to temporarily'retain the clamping bolt out of operative position in the slot, thereby to facilitate assembling or disassembling of said parts.

i 6. In a bedstead, the combination of a main frame member, an angle iron side-rail, means fordetachably securing said side rail to said mam frame member comprising abracket secured to said mam frame member, a bracket engaging plate secured tothe vertical flange i of said side rail in spaced relation thereto,

so as to permit said bracket to fit between said plate and said verticalfiange, a pair of vertic'ally spaced pin and slot connectionsbetween said plate and bracket, engageable by substantially vertical movement of said plate relative to said bracket, a locking bolt for locking said plate and bracket in assembled relation, said bracket havingan open ended slot extending crosswise of the dlrections of relative movement necessary for connectlng said plate and bracket, said plate having an elongated slot therein, partlv registering with said crosswise extending slot and partly extending beyond the outer edge of said bracket,said elongated slot servingto mov ably receive said bolt whereby the latter is adapted to be moved from inoperative position in the outer end of said slot to operative ,position in the registering slot portions after said bracket and plate are connected. I i

7. In a bedstead, the combination of a main,

frame member, a side rail, means forxdetaclr ably securing said side rail to said main frame comprising a pair of bracketssecured respectively to said main frame and side'rail, said brackets having-a connection adapted to be engaged or disengaged bymoving onepart relative to the other in one direction, said brackets having face to face engagement and being provided with slots" extending transversely of the direction of said engaging or disengaging movement, the slot in one of said parts being open-ended, and the slot in the other being closed and having a part regis tering with said open-ended slot and a part extending outwardly beyond the open end of said open-ended slot when the brackets are engaged, and a clamping device movable in said closed slot from one end thereof to the other, said clamping device being adapted to fit in the registering portions of said slots and toengage the opposite sides of said brackets to clamp the'same together andto be released and shifted to the outer end of said closed slot to permit disengagement of said main frame and side rail.

v FRANK KUSTERLE. 

